Axially extensible column construction with upper tubular bearing cap



Oct. 25, 1966 E. FAUST 3,280,527 AXIALLY EXTENSIBLE COLUMN CONSTRUCTION WITH UPPER TUBULAR BEARING CAP Filed July 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l y s I IIIIIII'IIIIII'III' Oct. 25, 1966 E. FA UST 3,280,527 AXIALLY EXTENSIBLE COLUMN CONSTRUCTION WITH UPPER TUBULAR BEARING CAP Filed July 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6403 %AZWM United States Patent 3,280,527 AXIALLY EXTENSIBLE COLUMN CONSTRUCTION WITH UPPER TUBULAR BEARING CAP Emil Faust, 300 ltloraine, Highland Park, Ill. Fiied July 29, 1963, Ser. No. 298,105 1 Claim. (Cl. 52--301) This invention relates to a column construction and more particularly to a construction that may be used to provide a desirable decorative effect in homes and the like.

The use of extensible, vertical pole-like elements in homes and the like as supports for lamps and other minor accessories, is of course, well known. Heretofore, from an aesthetic standpoint all previous designs have attempted to be unobtrusive and to merely serve their function as a structural support, because their actual presence almost invariably could not be properly integrated with an overall decorative effect sought to be achieved.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a column construction of a novel structural design which has the intended purpose, within homes and the like, to serve as a focal point of interest as well as a structural support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a column construction having versatility of use as a decorative accessory, or as a structural support, and particularly wherein the structure of the elements that lend vitality to the decorative design appearance of the column serve in a structural capacity to provide an improved support.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a column construction that is particularly adapted to have vertically-selectively-positionable shelves supported thereon and wherein the features of construction camouflage the mounting means for the shelves to provide an aesthetically desirable and versatile product.

A further object of this invention is to provide a column construction for homes and the like which is characterized by its attractiveness of appearance, and by its simplicity and inexpensiveness of fabrication.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a column construction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary cross-sections taken respectively on lines 6-6 and 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bracket-support wedge seen in FIGS. 4-7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support end of the bracket seen in FIGS. 4-7.

Referring now to the drawings, the column construction of this invention, generally indicated at 10, includes a vertically elongated support member 12 that is adapted to be positioned between floor 14 and ceiling 16, a base 18 and a cap 20. The base 18 is formed of any suitable material such as a plastic and is ornamental and protective and is formed to define a central socket or cup-shaped 3,289,527 Patented (Pct. 25, 1966 depression 19 for receiving thereinto the lower end of the support member 12. One or more vertically adjustable shelves 22 may be provided on the support member 12 in a manner as more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now with more particularity to FIGS. 2 and 3, the support member 12 is preferably an elongated, unitary, extruded tubular element formed of aluminum, which material affords anodizing thereof to achieve selected coloring. Tubular support member 12 may also be formed of steel or other selected structural material. The exterior periphery of support member 12 is provided with longitudinal flutes or serrations 24, and with one or more socket, or slot, defining means generally indicated at 26 extending longitudinally of support member 12.

The socket defining means 26 extends inwardly of the exterior periphery of support member 12, and is generally frusto conical in cross-section, thereby defined an inner wall 28 and side walls 30 and 32 which converge toward each other. The restricted opening to the socket defining means 26 has a width that is in the order of the width of the flutes 24, so as to achieve a desirable appearance which camoufiages the socket 26.

An extensible spring-biased pressure means 36 is mounted on the upper end of support member 12 and extends upwardly therefrom, to provide a column construction of variable height. The broad combination of a spring-biased pressure means 36 and of an elongated support member 12 which is adapted to be positioned between the fioor and ceiling of a room is well known in the art. The spring-biased pressure means 36 herein shown is preferably in the form of a pre-assembled unit which includes a apertured abutment plate 38 for engaging the upper edge of the support member 12, an elongated stem member 42 that slides through opening 40 in plate 38 and projects both above and below the abutment plate 38, and a coil spring 44 for normally biasing stem 42 upwardly relative to plate 38. The spring 44 surrounds the depending portion of stem member 42 and has its lower end secured to a pinched-in end portion 42a on stem 4-2 and has its upper end hooked into a slot 38a defined in a boss that depends from abutment plate 38 into support member 12. The upper end of stem 42 carries a pivoted pressure foot 46 that is normally adapted -to engage a ceiling such as 16. The pre-assembled unit 36 is of a dimension so that all portions thereof are located within the vertically projected confines of support member 12.

The elongated cap, or capital member, 20, is best seen in FIG. 2 as being a hollow member which preferably is formed by moulding of plastic material. The cap 20 defines a pressure transmitting wall, or surface, 50 at the upper or closed end thereof, a generally elongated cylindrical portion 52 at the other or lower end thereof, and an intermediate decorated portion between said ends. A plurality of peripheral beads 56, 58, 60, 62 are located at the ends of cylindrical portion 52 and serve both as reinforcing means and as decorative features which blend with the overall artistic effect intended to be conveyed. The exterior periphery of cap 20 between the uppermost bead 56 and wall 50 is artistically decorated to convey a desired impression to the observer, with such decorations preferably being integrally molded in the cap.

The length of hollow cap 20 is selected to receive therein both the upper portion of spring-biased pressure means 36 and at least a segment of the upper portion of support member 12 for the operating range of movement of the pressure means 36. The interior dimension of cylindrical portion 52 is similar to but preferably only slightly larger than the outer peripheral dimension of support 12 so as to permit of free and easy telescoping of the parts, to provide for symmetrical alignment, and

a to prevent lateral dislocation of the cooperating parts.

In the support of a shelf member 22, as best seen in FIGS. 4 through 8, there is provided an elongated plug member 70, of generally frusto-conical cross section, carrying adjacent its upper end a selectively manipulatable clamp means in the form of screw 72 whose tip is adapted to engage the inner wall 28 of the socket defining means 26. The plug member 70 is normally slidably arranged within the longitudinally extending socket 26. The inclined walls of the plug member 70 are adapted to frictionally engage and cooperate with the side walls 30 and 32 as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, so that by merely tightening up on screw 72, sufficient frictional force is developed between plug 70 and the support member 12 to maintain the plug member at a selected position along the groove 26.

The shelf 22 is adapted to be selectively removably mounted on and supported by the support member 12 and the plug member 70. The shelf 22 includes a horizontal surface 76 and a vertically rigidifying rib 78 therebelow. The innermost end of surface 76 is shaped to define a central tongue 80 with undercut portions 32, so as to provide tongue 80 with a generally frusto-conical shape, as best seen in FIG. 9. The innermost edge of rigidifying rib 78 is provided with a recess or cut-out 84 and a plug-engaging toe 86 therebelow.

With the plug member 70 located at a desired position, the shelf 22 is turned to dispose the surface 76 and tongue 80 generally vertically, in which position the tongue 80 is readily introduced into groove 26 above the upper end of the plug 70. Then by rotating shelf 22 to its normal position, as seen in FIG. 5, the tongue 80 moves to a position where it operates to engage the lateral walls 30 and 32 while simultaneously the toe 86 is caused to enter a longitudinal groove 88 formed in plug 70 so as to both engage and stabilize the shelf. The recess 84 provides for clearance of the head of screw 72, while permitting access to said screw.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that there has been provided by this invention an improved column construction which because ofits nature is easily integrated into an overall decorative effect that may be sought to be achieved in a home or the like. The rather large diameter support member 12, together with the decorative cap construction 20 serves as a focal point of interest as well as a structural support, and the cap 20 serves both to camouflage the pressure means and to supply a relatively large ceiling-engaging surface for transmitting forces from the pressure means. The column construction of this invention has versatility of use as a decorative accessory and as a structural support and is characterized by its attractiveness of appearance and in simplicity and inexpensiveness of fabrication.

While the support member 12 has been shown as generally cylindrical, it will be understood that it could be of other cross-section, such as oval, or other arcuate r polygonal cross-section.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claim to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A column construction comprising, in combination, a vertically elongated support member; extensible springbiased pressure means mounted on said support member and extending upwardly therefrom to provide a column of variable height, within the range of expansion of said spring-biased means, adapted for endwise pressuremounting thereof; and a hollow elongated tubular cap closed at one end and of a length for telescopically receiving therein both the spring-biased pressure means extending upwardly from the support member and at least a segment of the upper portion of the vertical support member; said support member being a tubular extrusion; said spring-biased pressure means including an apertured abutment plate engaging and supported on the upper end of the support member, an axially elongated stern means disposed in the tubular extrusion and extending upwardly through the apertured abutment plate Within the axially projected confines of the tubular support member, and spring means operatively disposed between the abutment plate and the portion of the axially elongated stem means disposed below said abutment plate for biasing the axially elongated stern means upwardly; said hollow tubular cap presenting a pressure transmitting Wall at the closed end thereof which is of substantially a greater area than that defined by an axial projection of the tubular support member, the opposite end of said tubular cap defining a substantially cylindrical sleeve of similar, but slightly larger, interior peripheral contour as the exterior peripheral contour of the tubular support, to provide an aligning but freely telescoping fit therebetween, and the exterior periphery of the said tubular cap between the ends thereof being artistically decorated.

References Cited by the Examiner 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,066 9/1926 Rastetter 52-301 X 2,937,842 5/1960 Meek 248356 3,086,627 4/1963 Bernard 52-738 X 3,143,331 8/1964 Corey 248221 X 3,161,264 12/1964 Isaaoson 52-301 3,178,775 4/1965 Tassell 5272O X 3,209,869 10/1965 Hammitt 52239 X FOREIGN PATENTS 791,701 6/ 1958 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner. 

